Medical Guides

Archive for the ‘Asthma’ Category

Avoidance of triggers In patients with asthma airways tend to narrow too easily and too much. This tendency is present all the time, and leads to ‘attacks’ which are brought on by various triggers. Therefore once a patient of asthma is aware of triggers which bring about an asthma attack he can eliminate or reduce the exposure to triggers and avoid asthma attacks. Some suggestions to avoid triggers are: Pollens  

Stage 1 When Asthma is under control there is: •    Little or no wheeze, cough or chest tightness •    No asthma symptoms during normal physical activity •    Reliever medication needed less than 3 times a week (unless it is used before exercise) Continue to take the reliever medications as and when needed.  

Occupational asthma Occupational asthma is defined as asthma caused by exposure to an agent encountered in the work environment. Occupational factors are associated with about 1 in 10 cases of adult asthma. A diagnosis of occupational asthma should be considered in every adult patient with new or worsening asthma. The diagnosis of occupational asthma requires: •    History of exposure to sensitising agents •    Absence of asthma symptoms before beginning employment •    Relation between...